Russia Blocks Websites Calling for Boycott of Duma Elections

July 08,2016 21:20

Russia's communications watchdog blocked four websites that urged a boycott of parliamentary elections in September as the government cracks down on protests and boosts control over social media. The regulator, Roskomnadzor, acted on a request from ...

MOSCOW, July 8 (RAPSI) â€“ Russiaâ€™s Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology, and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) has blocked website containing calls to sit out elections for the State Duma, RAPSI learnt in the communications regulator on Friday.Earlier, Roskomnadzor received a request from the Prosecutor Generalâ€™s Office to restrict access to unlawful information published on four politically motivated websites. According to prosecutors, publications include propaganda materials promoting idea of ballot strike.Moreover, these websites handled coordination of peopleâ€™s actions of organizing riots in violation of established order.Actions directed at breakdown of elections for the lower house of Russiaâ€™s parliament disrupt the constitutional order of the State, the regulatorâ€™s statement reads.